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Monday, April 16, 2012

"Mo & Co."

Spirit & Truth # 268

“Mo & Co.”

By Greg Smith

Has God called you to be a leader in
your church, in your workplace, or in your home?Believers need look no further than Moses for
a great example of what it takes to be a leader.Moses was a spiritual and political adept
whose contributions continue throughout Judaism and Christianity to this
day.His influence affects not only
adherents of those two religions, but through them he continues to shape the
world.Though famous for his sagacity,
Moses was not a genius all by himself.He enjoyed the benefit of a company of advisors, both from his own
generation and the generation above him.

Moses’ mother Jochebed exercised
great faith in placing him in the care of Pharaoh’s daughter by way of a
floating cradle.[i]The Egyptian princess who raised him surely
provided him with the finest of tutors, in addition to all the advantages
afforded to a prince of Egypt.Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro Ruel of Midian,
offered astute advice concerning the administration of justice in Israelite
court cases.[ii]While Moses’ insight into the divine surely
came from heaven above, his worldly wisdom was a gift from loving people one
generation above him.

Moses, Aaron, and Miriam

Good leaders need to listen to the
wisdom gleaned from their elders.They
also avail themselves of the counsel of peers.Moses’ wife Zipporah saved his life with her quick thinking at least
once,[iii]
and certainly proved that “behind every good man is a good woman.”As a young child, his sister Miriam was the
agent by whom Jochebed became her own son’s wet nurse.[iv]As a grown woman, Miriam the prophetess led the
Israelites in worship,[v] and
offered Moses advice (whether he wanted it or not).[vi]Moses’ brother Aaron served as the stuttering
prophet’s spokesman,[vii] and
later became the high priest of Israel,[viii]
helping his brother Moses turn Hebrew tradition into an established
religion.The three siblings worked so
closely together that there was little divide between where the work of one
ended, and the work of another began.

Leaders need advice from those who
have been around the block a few more times than they have.They also should listen to input from their
peers.But leaders are nothing without
the people they lead.As Jesus called
His disciples to make other disciples,[ix]
so He expects all believers to pass on the wisdom He has given them.Moses was a mentor to Joshua and Caleb, who
carried on his work long after he was gone.[x]In turn, these young disciples assumed the
mantle of leadership and passed on their knowledge to the generation beneath
them.

If God has called you to be a
leader, then remember the resources He has given you.You don’t have to go it alone.Receive help from those who have already
blazed the trail.Prayerfully consider
the opinions of your peers.Pass on
God’s truth to those who follow you.And
the wisdom-giver “will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”[xi]

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Why Is My Blog Called "Love the Word?"

So I was finally convinced to move into the 21st century and start a blog. What to name it?I've never liked those corny preacher-related email addresses like praisethelordimsavedandpreachingforjesus@hotmail.com. (My apologies if that's a real email address.) They seem disingenuous (isn't that a great word? According to the rhymezone.com dictionary it means "not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness.) I'd rather have a title for my blog that says what it is, and means it.

Then it hit me. "Love The Word." What could be more authentic, bona fide, genuine, literal, real, sincere, true, unveigned, unquestionable, and veritable than that?

I Love The Word.This can mean more than one thing, of course.

The Book of John, chapter 1 (NLT) says of Jesus:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. So it's quite obvious, isn't it? I love The Word--Jesus Himself, without whom there would be no you, no me, no blog for that matter.

But my blog title means something else as well. I love the word. My kids call me a 'word nerd.' I love words. I love what you can do with them--the impact they can make on people's lives. I love the history of words, both in English and in the other languages I've studied (Latin, Spanish, Greek). As a pastor, I use words as I preach every week, to try to impart the truth of The Word--Jesus. As a writer, I use words to share ideas, entertain, and inspire. So, as a typical 'word nerd' I had to come up with a blog title that truly embodied my affinity for both the Logos and the phrase.

On this blog you'll find my random thoughts. You'll also find a link to "Spirit and Truth," a weekly column I write for the southern Virginia newspaper, The Southside Messenger. In addition, you're likely to find various musings on some of my favorite topics including writing, family, the Christian life, and more. Thanks for stopping in. My hope is that you'll love the word as much as I do.

This Day in History

About Me

I am the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Scottsburg, Virginia, and have been in ministry over half my life.
I have been published in several newspapers, and write a weekly column entitled "Spirit and Truth" in The Southside Messenger, which has a circulation in southside Virginia.
I have four beautiful children and three wonderful grandbabies, some of whom live with me.